Arthritis treatments and Diet

Ease Arthritis with a Healthy Diet, Exercise and Relaxation

Rheumatoid arthritis is an autoimmune disorder; the immune system attacks the body’s tissues. Autoimmune reactions can be triggered by tissue injury, infection or emotional trauma in individuals with a genetic predisposition toward them. Steroids and immunosuppressive medications typically used to treat arthritis can become toxic when used long-term. Avoiding these long-term drugs and making a few simple lifestyle changes can moderate autoimmunity and control arthritis symptoms.

The most basic lifestyle changes address diet. Minimize or reduce foods of animal origin. That includes meats and all dairy products--milk, cheese and commercial foods that contain dairy products. Avoid partially hydrogenated oils, particularly in polyunsaturated vegetable oils, margarine and shortening. Be a label reader for all foods; partially hydrogenated oil is everywhere. Partially hydrogenated oils wreak havoc on arteries.

Regular exercise is also important in reducing arthritis symptoms. Be sure to get aerobic exercise daily. Swimming is best for arthritis; unlike other forms of exercise, it works most muscle groups. Plus, the water displaces gravity’s affect of jarring body weight. Yoga is also helpful; the movements are slow and it helps calm the mind.

You should also eliminate coffee and tobacco. Both are linked to an increased risk for rheumatoid arthritis. To help make the transition to quitting smoking, try herbal cigarettes that can be purchased in upscale tobacco shops. Be sure to substitute new behaviors when you’re hit with the urge to smoke, such as cleaning, chewing gum or taking a brisk walk. Roastaroma tea by Celestial Seasonings is a delicious, non-caffeinated coffee alternative.

Also try eliminating these classes of foods from your diet for two months, one at a time: 1) all sugar except natural fruits; 2) all citrus fruits; 3) wheat, corn and soy. At the end of each trial, restore the eliminated food group to your diet. You may discover that some of the foods aggravate your arthritis symptoms, then you can completely eliminate any such foods from your diet.

Of course, you can use aspirin or other anti-inflammatory pain relievers such as ibuprofen when needed. You can also take one to two capsules of feverfew twice daily; feverfew has anti-inflammatory properties.

Relaxation techniques can help tame arthritis symptoms, too. The mind-body connection is a foundation for health. Try meditation, yoga or visualization. Visualization can moderate autoimmune responses; picture yourself pain-free and happy, with healthy functioning joints. You can also try psychotherapy, which can transform emotional states that keep the immune system off-balance. Hypnotherapy or guided imagery can be beneficial, too. Find a therapist who’s open to working with an autoimmune disease.

And avoid health care practitioners who make you feel pessimistic. You can also experiment with traditional Chinese medicine, homeopathy, Ayurvedic medicine, traditional Native American medicine and healers.

arthritis treatments

Arthritis Treatments

The bad news is: you suffer from osteoarthritis. But the good news is, natural supplements can improve joint function, reduce pain and slow the disease’s progress. And even more good news is that these supplements can be used long-term without side effects.

The most beneficial natural herbal remedies for alleviating arthritis inflammation and pain are boswellia, cayenne cream, glucosamine, MSM and SAMe.

Boswellia is particularly helpful for acute flare-ups. It should be standardized to contain 60% boswellic acids. Boswellia, also known as "Indian frankincense," comes from the Boswellia serrata tree of India. Unlike ibuprofen, it does not cause stomach irritation.

Cayenne cream can also help diminish arthritis pain, although it does not repair cartilage. It can be applied topically to joint trouble spots. It should only be used externally, and it should be kept away from the eyes, nose and mouth.

You can also try taking 500 mg of Glucosamine three times daily for up to three months, or until you attain relief. Then you can reduce your intake to two a day, which will decrease your cost--and juggling your medication box!

MSM, or methylsulfonylmethane, is particularly helpful for severe arthritis. Many arthritis patients report relief when taking MSM in conjunction with glucosamine. In rare cases MSM may cause a skin rash; discontinue use if this occurs. You should use MSM with caution if you’re also taking any blood thinning medications, including aspirin.

SAMe, or S-adenosylmethionine, is also helpful. Consult your doctor before taking this natural supplement if you’re taking anti-depressants.

There are a few other natural herbal remedies that are also helpful in relieving arthritis pain. They are bromelain, chondroitin and white willow bark. Each of these herbs possesses anti-inflammatory properties, which will help reduce pain. There are also supplements available that contain all three of these natural anti-inflammatory agents.

Bromelain, like boswellia, is particularly helpful for acute flare-ups. Be careful not to take bromelain with blood-thinning drugs, as it can increase their effect.

Chondroitin can be substituted for or taken with MSM and glucosamine if you’re not attaining relief. There are products on the market that contain all three--MSM, glucosamine and chondroitin. Like bromelain, chrondroitin should not be taken with blood-thinning drugs, including aspirin.

White willow bark, like bromelain and boswellia, works well for acute flare-ups. A special note about white willow bark: Unlike all the other herbal remedies listed, it cannot be taken long-term. You should not use it if you are allergic to aspirin or suffer from a stomach ulcer or any other gastrointestinal disorder, as it can aggravate stomach bleeding.
You’ll also need a healthy dose of patience when using natural supplements. It may be four to eight weeks until you notice improvement, as repairing cartilage takes time.

arthritis treatments

Acupressure Points to Relieve Arthritis

Acupressure is perhaps the oldest form of medicine, dating back 5,000 years to ancient China. The human body contains a specific type of electrical energy, which runs along key routes. When this energy is blocked, tension, pain and disease result. Acupressure loosens that tension, and circulates pain-relieving endorphins, by applying pressure simply with the fingers or hands to acupoints. Unlike acupuncture, acupressure doesn’t require needles. And acupressure is a quick and easy way to give yourself arthritis pain relief.

To apply acupressure, use gentle yet firm pressure with your fingers. Breathe deeply while you are applying pressure. Use common sense; don’t press hard if it’s painful. If you are experiencing inflammation, acupoints you should be touched lighter rather than harder. Apply pressure to the points listed below three times a day for at least one minute, up to 10 or 15 minutes. Be sure to do each side, if relevant.

GB 20-on the base of the skull, two inches out from center of the neck on either side. This is one of the 12 main anti-inflammatory points. It’s also excellent for overall pain relief. This point also helps decrease the general irritability that arthritis pain can cause.

Rheumatoid arthritis, with its flare-ups and remissions, requires long-term consistency. Below are acupoints that are particularly helpful for this type of arthritis.

LI 4-the fleshy mound in the webbing between the thumb and forefinger. Caution: This acupoint can stimulate uterine contractions in pregnant women.

LV 2-in the webbing between the big toe and second toe.

GB 41-on top of the foot, between the little toe and fourth toe, about halfway between the ankle bone and the base of the toes, slightly closer to toes.

GB 34-at the bottom of the kneecap; slide your finger toward the outside of the leg into the soft dip between where two bones come together. This is a major point for nourishing tendons and joints.

An extra hand point lies on the palm. It’s one thumb width above the wrist crease and one finger width to either side. The LI 4 point is also helpful for osteoarthritis. Here are some more osteoarthritis acupoints:

ST 36-four finger widths below the kneecap, one finger width outside the shinbone. It’s on the muscle that flexes as you move your foot up and down. This acupoint, also called Three Mile, is also terrific for increasing energy in general; it is popular with marathon runners.

KD 3-just behind the inner ankle bone in the soft dip.

Dr. Michael Reed Gach, Ph.D., author of Arthritis Relief at Your Fingertips notes that obtaining arthritis pain relief from acupressure is not a quick cure. Rather, it should be utilized consistently and long-term as part of your pain management care.

Arthritis treatment

Arthritis Treatments

CureYourArthritis.com Book Sells 241,597 Copies, Now Available Worldwide

Self-Published Best Seller, "I Cured My Arthritis, So Can You!"


LARGO, Fla., -- Seventy-four year old author Margie
Garrison, who has helped countless thousands of people to cure their arthritis after finding a solution to her own lifelong debilitating illness, has now made her best-selling book, "I Cured My Arthritis, So Can You!" available world-wide on the internet.

Told at the age of 28 that she would be forced to use a wheelchair within five years, Margie dedicated her life to researching alternative treatments for this common affliction that used to be considered "incurable", and she
proved her doctors wrong. Through a specific program of diet and exercise, she has lived free of arthritis pain for the past 21 years, and based on the testimonials listed on her new website, her program has been a godsend
to many others as well.

Much of the initial sales of the arthritis book were made through word of mouth by satisfied customers like Emily Melford, who told Margie,
"This book is wonderful. I would like to buy 6 more copies of this book to give to my three children and three other families. I am fully convinced that eating right will save our health."

More information on "I Cured My Arthritis, You Can Too!" can be found on Margie's new website . "I'm excited to be able to reach an even greater audience than ever before," says Margie. "It has been the greatest thrill of my life to be able to make such a difference in so many people's lives,
and with the advancements in computers and health research, more sufferers can get the help they deserve."

Arthritis treatment

Arthritis Treatments

Welcome to find arthritis treatment blog. We will attempt to educate you on the in and outs of arthritis and just what you can do to find relief. Hopefully you'll find the arthritis treatment that's right for you.